Rottweilers Ate My Laptop

Rottweilers. Computers. Cameras. World Domination. Not necessarily in that order.

Rottweilers.
Computers. Cameras.
World Domination.
Not necessarily in that order.

Farewell to a fallen hero

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The love for fallen CFD Captain Herbert “Herbie” Johnson is evident in every photo from today’s funeral. The support and strength from the Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Police Department, the community, and from brother and sister firefighters from all across North America is truly amazing to see.

http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/2012/11/cfd-captain-herbie-johnson-funeral/
http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/2012/11/cfd-captain-herbie-johnson-funeral-part-2/

It occurred to me that the only times I have seen Dan in his Class As (dress uniform) is for CFD LODD funerals. I wish there were some happy occasions to associate, but so far that has not been so.

(NaBloPoMo | November ’12: 8 of 30)

Problems of the spoiled urban dweller

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After over twenty years at this address, the last Illinois redistricting put us in a new ward. We are now part of the 20% of Chicago voters who have been assigned to a new polling place.

My old polling place was a short city block away. My new one is… OMG… 0.6 miles away. How could they inconvenience me like that?

While you shake your head at what a spoiled city girl I am, I will once again post a 2004 quote from Mary Schmich of the Chicago Tribune that I have posted prior to a few elections now:

“The problem is, we’re not all carrying the same country in our hearts. We all claim we want to be safe and free. But each side in this war–the internal American war that’s shaping the whole world–has a different vision of what it means to be safe and free and how we should share those gifts.”

Support your vision with your vote. Even if you are not sure that your one vote makes a difference (and there have been many times I have questioned it myself), your silence for sure will not make a difference. So let your voice be heard.

(NaBloPoMo | November ’12: 5 of 30)

Variations on a theme

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I replaced my BlackBerry Curve with an Android smartphone (HTC Thunderbolt) in May. Although I still miss the BlackBerry’s superior handling of multiple email accounts and most of all BlackBerry Messenger, I don’t miss its less-than-stellar 2MP camera.

The HTC phones all seem to have better than average cameras. The Thunderbolt has an 8MP camera and image quality in adequate light is probably better than that of my first digital point and shoot camera.

When I’m stopped at the light at Orleans and Ontario, every so often I use the phone to snap a photo of the Sears Tower. Or at least the top of the Sears Tower plus all of the other shorter buildings on Orleans. Yes, I know that is not its current name. I do not acknowledge that name. So far, luck has not had me stopped safely at the light for the most interesting cloud formations and lighting conditions. Eventually I’ll get them all, I hope.

(NaBloPoMo | November ’11: 5 of 30)

F’d-up Friday

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I’m having a tough time getting back into the rhythm of daily writing. As I’ve mentioned before, November is not the best time for me to start any kind of involved personal project.

Today was a particularly aggravating day with no chance to enjoy the unseasonably mild weather. All week, AT&T repair trucks have been working in the alley behind the house, mostly blocking our garage. It has been a real inconvenience, plus I hate to open the garage when strangers of any variety are around. The work day started early and ended late. In between, we were missing several people due to illness or minor emergencies. When I finally got home, it was to the news that one of our neighbors had his home broken into.

I know I have complained about the jagoffs in my neighborhood quite often. The neighbor whose home was broken into is not one of them. He is a very nice older gentleman who certainly did not deserve the headache. Thankfully he was not home at the time, and the only saving grace is that the scumbag criminals did not hurt his dog. Not physically, anyway. I hope she was not too traumatized by the invasion.

I put part of the blame on another neighbor who is definitely one of the jagoffs. His constant yard sales (so many as to be in violation of city ordinances, but of course since it’s not a “real” crime nothing has been done) bring around unknowns and undesirables as well as legitimate neighborhood bargain seekers. I would not be surprised if some of the unknowns were also casing out the area for easy marks.

I’ve always bought into the conventional wisdom that having a dog is a deterrent to break-ins. Now I’m not so sure. I do know that when the Rottweilers bark and growl at unknowns or unfriendlies, I won’t be making an effort to stop them any longer. This is one time that I plan to use the stereotype of killer Rottweilers for good — our good. I truly hate that I feel I have to do that.

(NaBloPoMo | November ’11: 4 of 30)